The Unite and British Airways battle has finally come to a head as the High Court battle ruled in favour of British Airways. The long dispute started late last year when Unite challenged the debt-ridden airline’s cost-cutting measures which included reducing crew numbers in cabin.

This ruling does not signal the end of it all however, as BA chairman Willie Walsh will have to face another challenge today when ballot results will reveal whether the airline is set to face a series of strike actions from cabin crew.

Walsh told airline insiders at a monthly meeting of the Association of European Airlines in Brussels last week that 1000 pilots will train as cabin crew in order to keep the carrier flying through any union action. Pilots already have the security clearance and safety knowledge to allow them to easily take on the role of crew.

An airline source is reported to have revealed: “Willie Walsh made no bones about it. He told all the airline bosses at the meeting ‘we now have 1,000 pilots who are going to train as cabin crew and act as crew on the flights.’ He also said he expected the strike would go ahead.”